I rise today on what is a somewhat bittersweet occasion to reflect on my time in the Senate, and to look ahead to the future. Next to being a husband, a father, and a grandfather, these past 6 years have provided without a doubt the most…

Also, Mr. President, Senator Collins has an amendment at the desk, and I ask for its consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Minnesota [Mr. Grams], for Ms…

I would like to have the honor of concluding some business items. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent the amendment be agreed to, the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, be agreed to, the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any…

highway safety, especially concerning long-haul trucks tends to be a contentious issue. It is generally understood that the long-haul truck driver faces a tedious and fatiguing task. Government regulations on commercial truck drivers set…

Today I come to the floor to offer a tribute to a humble man. Yesterday, while I was in Minnesota, I received word that one of my former colleagues from the House of Representatives, Congressman Bruce Vento, had passed away after a battle…

I disagree with the Vice President--if I may reclaim my time--and I will tell you why. Because, as you said, when it goes into effect in 2002, it is not fully implemented for 6 to 8 years. You might start off with a low payment, but it…

That is the deductible. The individual would pay 25 percent of the cost of the prescription, and then if they were at an income level you are talking about, it would be a $150 deductible with no caps or limits for the year; not the $4,000…

Because what we are trying to do is target those who need the help, and that is about 6 or maybe 10 percent of the population. What the Vice President is doing and what you are talking about is bringing 100 percent of Americans under a new…

I am not opposed to a surcharge or a prescription charge but a charge that is going to assume a new $600-per-year additional tax or cost on our seniors while providing very little in benefit that would overcome that cost.

Not to belabor this debate, and it is good we are talking about it because the American people need to hear it, but over that amount of money you are talking about, we would still have a $25 copay, the $150 deductible, and then no cap at…

So you are saying the President's plan, when fully phased in, will be only $25 per month or are you talking about the initial plan with the coverage available with the caps and coverage?

It would cover 100 percent of everything over a $25 copay and a $150-a-month deductible for those who are in that income level or above.

Reclaiming my time, not to leave the impression that by any means this is an assault on Medicare, because the plan I have proposed and outlined is handled and complemented through Medicare. I know they like to always say the Republicans…

My understanding is that in order to be a part of the Vice President's plan of receiving prescription drug coverage, one must pay a $50 premium per month, or new tax, in order to be involved in the system. You have one choice, one chance…

But his plan is not voluntary. You can voluntarily get in, but when you do not get in, you can't reapply. That is my understanding.

The Senator from Florida is inaccurate because in my own plan, my MEDS program is a copay and also has deductibles built in depending on wages or income. It is worked through Medicare and through the HCFA program. So, no, I do not oppose a…

We have tried, but we have not had it scored yet and have not been able to get the numbers, but some of the projections we have say it will be under $40 billion a year, not the 258 or 253 the Vice President is talking about.

The Senator from Alabama is right. If we look at it, at a time of overtaxation, when American workers are getting up every morning, working hard, and sending this money to Washington, and then it is overtaxed--we are not talking about…

I will talk for a couple of minutes about one of the issues about which I am most passionate, and that is taxes, or the overtaxation of the American people in a time of surpluses, and the refusal of this Congress, this President, to even…

I wanted to take time before leaving for the weekend to be here to express my strong disappointment with President Clinton and his Democratic allies in the Congress who have once again denied millions of American couples marriage penalty…

I join in saying that we all share the concern of Senator Wellstone regarding China's repression of its citizens' religious freedoms. But if passed, make no mistake about it, this amendment, as with any amendment that would be offered to…

I think he was bragging a little bit, maybe, about his uncle who is 80 years old and running in a marathon. I just congratulate him. How great that our senior citizens, because of the advances of medicine, can do that. I have a friend…

I want to today announce my support for S. 353, the Class Action Fairness Act, just reported by the Judiciary Committee, and announced my intention to complement this legislation by introducing legislation soon that will require lawyers…